Faith & Madness

---

Item #: SCP-4XXX	Level X/4XXX
Object Class: Euclid	Classified

---

SCP-XXXX-A prior to containment. Provisional Site-1221 is visible in the background.

---

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-XXXX and the adjacent property have been seized by the Foundation. The structure has been deemed condemned and a 2-meter tall fence has been constructed to keep civilians from entering the premises. Provisional Site-1221 has been established on a nearby non-anomalous property to monitor the anomaly.

Manifestations of SCP-XXXX-B are to be monitored by MTF Lambda-5 ("Matchmakers"). Following the SCP-4XXX-1 incident, a specially trained D-Class personnel is to be assigned to interact with the entity until its de-manifestation.

---

Description:

SCP-XXXX is the group designation assigned to three connected anomalies in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

SCP-XXXX-A is a two-story, four-room house in a mild state of disrepair. Windows and doors on the first floor have been barricaded from the inside with a mixture of human hair, feces, and seminal fluids. All attempts to breach the barricades and enter SCP-XXXX-A have resulted in failure, as the structure appears to only be penetrable by SCP-XXXX-B and SCP-XXXX-C.

SCP-XXXX-B refers to an estimated 55 humanoid entities of varying ages, 4 canines, and 3 felines with elongated bodies and extremities. From SCP-XXXX-A exploration tests, SCP-XXXX-B have been observed to wrap the lengths of their bodies and extremities along one another, leading to various instances of intertwining Archimedean spirals, knots, and tangles. Due to this behavior, it is impossible to obtain an accurate measurement of the size of SCP-XXXX-B instances. Humanoid SCP-XXXX-B instances are sentient and capable of speech but appear to have a very limited short-term memory and lack object permanence.

SCP-XXXX-C is a humanoid entity resembling a Caucasian female between the ages of 20 and 25 which manifests every 6 years within the month of June, whereupon it will exit SCP-XXXX-A. SCP-XXXX-C behaves as a non-anomalous individual, and over the course of 6-11 months establish itself as an active and prolific member of the local community's Christian religious organizations.

During this time, SCP-XXXX-C will court and seduce a male from said organizations. SCP-XXXX-C will often make invitations to introduce their target to their 'parents' with the apparent purpose of converting them into an instance of SCP-XXXX-B. To date, all observed SCP-XXXX-C instances have been found to possess the genetic material of prior iteration's victims.

---

Item History:

SCP-4XXX was discovered in 1984 after the disappearance of Arkadelphia resident Peter Miller. The disappearances (starting in 1966) had already come under notice by the Foundation, but the presence of SCP-4XXX was not confirmed until then. Although usually the relatives of SCP-4XXX-B residents are amnesticized, Peter Miller's living relatives (father and aunt) were not amnecsticized to allow for a Foundation cover story. Limited containment was enacted: SCP-4XXX-C was only monitored under a policy of non-interference in 1990 and 1996. Direct containment was established following the 1996 4XXX-1 incident.

---

Addendum 01: SCP-4XXX-A Log

---

Addendum 02: SCP-4XXX-1 Incident

In 1996, potential SCP-4XXX-B instance John Hayworth was being led by a SCP-4XXX-C instance (named Sibyl Iraye) into SCP-4XXX-A. However, they were both stopped by local Protestant pastor David Miller, father of SCP-4XXX-B instance Peter Miller. Miller then proceeded to force Hayworth away from SCP-4XXX-C. A long argument between John Hayworth, David Miller, and SCP-4XXX-C was reported to have taken place. Many of the townsfolk arrived to spectate the commotion. MTF Lambda-5 was subsequently deployed in guise of law enforcement to stop Miller. At this time, Miller was quoted as saying, "In nomine patris et fili et spiritus sancti, I will do as I must."

Before Lambda-5 could prevent any incident, Miller retrieved a makeshift incendiary device, lit it, and proceeded to immolate both himself and the SCP-4XXX-C instance. Onlookers as well as Lambda-5 attempted to extinguish a fire, but both Miller and the SCP-4XXX-C instance had expired. This is the only known case of a SCP-4XXX-C instance being neutralized prior to de-manifestation. Stricter containment procedures were implemented after this incident.

A Foundation inquiry into David Miller following the SCP-4XXX incident revealed that Miller had very recently destroyed much of his property and personal belongings referring to his religion. His office at the local church was completely empty save an audio recording, which has been transcribed below.

» Show Recording

Many will not understand why I will do the actions I will carry out tonight, especially those who know me very well. My actions will completely go against my faith. However, many do not know of the evil that festers in this town.

It is corrupting John, it is becoming John! How will I help him when he will not listen to me, he will not listen to himself? It is beyond all reason! I must strike at the heart! Quench the fire directly at the source. There is no other way; I must kill the she-devil!

John is a good man, I cannot let him become part of this thing! I do not know what it is, a whore of Babylon or a demon. I have never had a moment of peace without remembering its face. It must be stopped. I was young, gullible, foolish once. Just like John… it has been feeding on us, preying. I must confess. I do not uphold my faith any longer. It has been a long time since I have. I am a sinner, and I will not go unpunished.

John… has been like a son to me. I see him as if were my own. And it knows that. I do not know if I have begun to replace Peter with him or I have tricked myself into doing so. I talked to him, to make him understand. Alone, I wished. It came with him. "Anything you can tell me, you can tell her," he said.

I told him the truth. All I knew. I could see it in John's eyes. He was unsure; it knew it. I begged him to listen, I pleaded. He looked at it, for some hope that what I told him was… untrue. A lie, from a senile old man. John got what he wished.
It laughed. It looked at me, and it laughed harder.
And so did he, as they walked out hand in hand.

That's all it was to it. A joke. It preys on us, our expectations and our indifference. It tells you what you want to hear. It did so thirty years ago; it still does today. Never changes. And it never will. So I will do what I have to do. I will end it.

May God forgive me.

---